Editor's Letter

A Message Worth Heeding

R

in any other Jewish community outside the Sunbelt, recent
isk taking must become the norm if Detroit Jewry is
Federation findings show. Some are well-to-do although their
to survive the triple whammy of a declining popula-
support of Jewish institutions and causes tailed off as their chil-
tion, a dismal economy and a daunting need.
dren left, spurring gaping funding holes.
We can't cling to business as usual.
Many seniors live on vulnerable incomes. Business is boom-
Metro Detroit is home to fewer Jews. And our median age
ing at Jewish Family Service, Hebrew Free Loan and other
is up to 47. We're still involved religiously and culturally. And
Federation partner agencies — which is not a good sign. These
we're communally active. Our geographic core remains stable,
providers confront government cuts and growing needs. The
but we're slowly aging. The flight of so many young adults
result: dramatic new service models and creative interagency
to Chicago, New York, Boston, Seattle
collaborations, many of which Aronson helped inspire or ini-
and L.A. in search of jobs and nightlife
tiate. Nursing care and transportation also are front-burner
doesn't help matters.
senior issues.
All this came to mind as I listened to
Jewish education presents another hurdle as enrollment and
Bob Aronson, Detroit Jewry's top profes-
resources
dwindle. Aronson got it right: "It requires new-think-
sional and a protege of our legacy giants
ing,
new
curricula
and new funding for teachers and students
David Hermelin and Max Fisher, urge us
alike
—
both
in
our
day schools and our synagogue schools —
to take chances to ensure the vitality of
if
we
are to attract a new generation of young
our Jewish futufe.
people
to the beauty and knowledge of our
"To our Jewish agen-
Jewish
heritage, which is our sacred birthright!'
cies, organizations and
It
goes
without saying that Israel, nearly six
synagogues; to our Jewish
years
into
a Palestinian-led war that has mur-
Federation; to our volunteer
dered
more
than 1,100 Israelis and crippled
and professional leadership:' he declared at a sold-
Israel's
economy
on a number of levels, still
out dinner in his honor at the Jewish Community
needs
us,
58
years
after its founding in the
Center of Metropolitan Detroit, "my message is
shadows
of
Hitler's
anti-Jewish fury.
that we must take risks. We can no longer afford to
Federation
continues
to send 45 percent of its
. do today what we did yesterday!'
budget
overseas,
mainly
to Israel. Our dilemma:
In that Kodak moment in celebration of his
Local
needs
are
rising
but
Israel remains at the
chaff, or 18th, year as chief executive officer of
very
core
of
our
Jewish
being.
"We must support .
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
and
develop
the
news
ideas,
missions
and mod-
Aronson distilled the challenge before us. We're
els
that
will
make
the
love
of
Israel
and
the land
now 72,000 strong, according to Federation's new- Bob Aronso n
of
Israel
accessible
to
each
one
of
our
children
est demographic study. That's a drop of 24,000
and their children," Aronson says.
from Federation's last survey in 1989. Its debatable whether the
Aronson put it well: Whatever good times and bad we've had
96,000 then was accurate, but we still must take notice.
during
his tenure in Detroit, we've experienced them together,
As a community, we've never been risk takers. Says Aronson,
as
a
community.
"It runs against our institutional grain." He should know:
He's the ultimate Federation executive because of his ability
Beyond Bob
to articulate a vision and connect the dots to work toward it.
Below
our radar is Detroit Jewry without Aronson at the helm.
Because of his skill at lining up the people and dollars, he has
He's
in
demand, given his knack to seamlessly cross over
protected the primacy of our Federation as the community's
between
the Federation world and the empire of mega-phi-
central address for planning and fund-raising. Other communi-
lanthropists
like William Davidson, Michael Steinhardt and
ties admire our service umbrella.
Eugene Applebaum.
Are Federation's current organizational and fund-raiS-
Tough Times
ing
components workable post-Bob? He holds a full-time .
Don't let Federation's 2006 Annual Campaign, headed to a near-
Federation
job as less than a full-timer, on paper anyway,
record yield of $36.75 million, fool you. The number of donors
because
of
his other commitments. Still, we're dependent on
has fallen from 15,000 to 10,000 over the last five years; larger
his
fund-raising
savvy: Solicitation has shifted from peer solic-
individual donations have enabled the Campaign to keep pace
iting
peer
to
professional
soliciting target donors, a specialized
and grow. That's a tribute to all givers, especially the wealthier.
skill.
No
time
is
better
to
size up Federation's highest rung than
Federation tapped into that commitment and into its United
now,
with
Aronson
still
at
the controls. Let's assure the future of
Jewish Foundation investments to lift its 2006-2007 budget by
❑
that
rung
is
secure.
$1.3 million to $36.75 million. A windfall it's not: Agency, capi-
tal, Israel and other overseas needs are white hot.
The JCC, our financially struggling hub for Jewish activ-
ity, hosted and benefited from the May 3 dinner. Proceeds
endowed the new Robert P. Aronson Youth Activity Fund to
Do we take Bob Aronson's unusual
expand and enrich youth programming at the JCC. The JCC
skill
set for granted?
continues to evolve amid an ever-diversifying community into
what Aronson calls a "Center for Jewish Life and Renewal."
What are the most pressing issues
Federation rescued the JCC in recent years not only through
facing
Jewish Detroit?
supplemental funding but also Aronson's leadership in the rais-
ing of $35 million for capital upgrades.
Email: letters@thejewishnews.com
On another front, older adults are vital to our community.
More Jews of retirement age live here proportionately than

PO I NTS TO PO NDER.

,

TO EACH
SPONSOR,
VOLUNTEER,
AND GUEST:

THANKS
TO YOU,
SPRING
ELATION '06
WAS A
RECORD
BREAKING
SUCCESS!

YOUR
SUP PORT
SUPPORT
WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVES
OF CHILDREN
WITH
DISABILITIES.

www. j a morg

245.538.6611

May 11 • 2006

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